Tennis: Rackets are extension of friendship for Knights duo

11:50 a.m. EST, May 3, 2012|Greg Swatek, The Frederick News-Post, Md.

Everything clicked instantaneously, the personalities and the sense of humor. Kati Malagari and Marissa Gouker of Middletown High School seemed destined to grow up together from the moment they met on the first day of kindergarten.

"We were best friends before we knew each other's names," Gouker said.

Last spring, Malagari and Gouker's friendship took them into an entirely new arena. That would be the tennis court.

And while the first swings of the racket were a struggle for both, they have since put in the work necessary to become a respectable doubles team.

On Wednesday, Malagari and Gouker raised their record to 11-4 this season at No. 3 doubles with a 6-2, 6-4 road win over Tuscarora duo Ashley Tolino and Nicole Culver.

That matches Megan Robertson for the best record on the Middletown girls team. Robertson started the season at No. 2 singles before moving into the top spot.

On the first day of practice, Malagari and Gouker sensed something was different. They had played quite a bit during the offseason.

"We were hitting the ball harder and more accurately," Malagari said.

Added Gouker, "I don't know what it is that clicked, but I am glad that it did."

Malagari, Gouker and Robertson are part of a large sophomore class for the Middletown girls that are helping to improve the team's fortunes.

The Knights have won eight matches this season, three more than last season, and were a few games away from their ninth against Tuscarora before weather suspended the match. Middletown holds a 2-1 lead.

"The girls seem to be hitting their stride now and that's good to see," Knights coach Jane Bass said. "You can see them making adjustments before (the coaches) can come over and tell them to adjust."

Weather was one of the reasons Tuscarora boys coach John Murray wanted to put his three doubles teams on the court to start the match. The other obvious reason, Murray said, was the doubles teams have "been our strength all year."

Sure enough, the Titans (13-2) swept all three of the doubles matches to clinch the victory over the Middletown boys, who are 8-8.

It is unclear if the two singles matches will be completed when the teams meet again Monday at Middletown to complete another suspended match from earlier this spring.

The Titans' No. 1 doubles team of Tyler and Nathan Homon and No. 3 doubles team of Yash Mehta and Praneet Puppala each have one loss. The No. 2 team of West Claggett and Aldo Giaimo has come through in clutch situations on multiple occasions.

The only team with the talent and depth to beat the Tuscarora boys this season is unbeaten Urbana.

"There's not a lot of pressure on us (to win) because our other doubles teams are so good," Nathan Homon said. "We can just go out there and play and, no matter what happens, (the team) will be fine."

The Homon twins (14-1), who are freshmen, have been playing tennis for two years and have developed a knack for frustrating opponents. They are not big and will not blow anyone off the court with their shot-making. But they keep the ball in play and capitalize on mistakes.

Even with a tendency to fall behind early, they figure out a way to win.

"We get to know (the other team's) moves and how they play and we adjust," Nathan said.

Or as Tyler said about their ability to unnerve opponents, "We like to hit lines."